Missing boat had engine problems

Eleven people, including five children, were happy to reach Tongatapu safely yesterday evening after their small boat had failed to reach its destination Fonoifua Island in the Ha'apai Group on Monday, triggering a search and rescue operation. “When it got dark we had not spotted any island, it started raining and our navigation was off route so we decided to anchor the boat, and slept overnight intending to continue our journey the next day,” said the Captain Tevita Mateaki Fonua, but the boat went adrift. Photos by Linny Folau